1  e  r 


'(She  PAN  AMEIRICAN  UNION 

JOHN  BARRETT  :  ;  Director  General 
FRANCISCO  J.  YANES  :  Assistant  Director 


Future  Farming  in  Cuba 

(Reprinted  from  the  February,  1913,  issue 
of  the  Bulletin  of  the  Pan  American  Union) 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 


1913 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/futurefarmingincOOpana 


The  late  presidential  election  in  Cuba  was  conducted  in  a 
manner  that  would  have  done  credit  to  any  Republic  in  the 
Americas.  The  voting  was  performed  without  the  slightest 
disorder,  and  the  result  distinctly  expressed  the  popular  will. 
The  advance  toward  able  and  wise  self-government  which  has  been 
made  in  Cuba  since  the  island  became  independent  is  truly  remarkable 
when  gauged  by  an  appreciative  understanding  of  the  difficulties  which 
lay  in  the  way  of  progress.  Political  conditions  have  greatly  improved 
and  there  is  a  tendency  in  the  right  direction.  The  people  are  becom¬ 
ing  constantly  less  susceptible  to  the  appeal  of  agitators,  and  the 
Government  is  displaying  ever-increasing  power  to  deal  promptly 
and  effectively  with  annoying  situations. 

With  the  establishment  of  order  and  the  consequent  creation  of 
confidence  among  capitalists  C'uba  will  enter  upon  an  era  of  industrial 
expansion  and  widespread  prosperity — a  state  which  shall  involve 
the  welfare  of  all  classes.  The  conditions  that  are  creating  Cuba’s 
opportunity  have  been  in  the  making  for  many  years,  and  are  now 
growing  acute.  In  the  United  States  and  the  manufacturing  coun¬ 
tries  of  Europe  the  demand  for  foodstuffs  is  pressing  hard  upon  the 
supply.  Increase  of  population  is  outstripping  increase  of  farm 
products.  Nations  which  in  the  past  have  been  great  exporters  of 
meat  and  cereals  are  steadily  shipping  less,  and  before  long  will  have 
become  importers. 

f jatin-American  countries  are  finding  ever-expanding  markets  for 
the  yield  of  their  soil.  Eying  directly  in  the  principal  Panama  Canal 
routes,  Cuba  is  singularly  well  situated  to  play  a  ])roniinent  part  in 
meeting  this  growing  demand.  It  is  hardly  necesssary  to  add  that 
her  wonderfully  rich  land  and  splendid  growing  climate  give  her 
unsurpassed  advantages  in  the  matter  of  production.  The  island 
is  capable  of  almost  unlimited  development.  Sugar  and  tobacco  are 
the  products  which  are  to-day  scientifically  cultivated  aud  raised  in 
adequate  quantities.  Less  than  15  per  cent  of  the  arable  land  is 
turned  to  good  account,  and  little  of  it  is  worked  to  its  utmost  possi¬ 
bility  of  production.  Even  in  the  leading  industries,  where  the  man¬ 
ufacturing  methods  have  been  well-nigh  perfected,  there  is  room  for 
improvement  m  the  field  processes.  Vast,  as  is  the  value  of  Cuba’s 
annual  output,  much  less  than  one-fourth  of  her  resources  have  been 


1  ]3y  Forbes  Lindsay. 


3 


HARBOR  AND  WATER  FRONT  AT  HAVANA,  CUBA. 

Of  the  $40,000,000  worth  of  foodstuffs  purchased  by  Cuba  annually  considerably  more  than  halt  of  this  quantity  consists  of  products  that  might  be  raised  on  the  island 


FUTURE  FARMING  IN  CUBA. 


5 

(levolopcd.  With  well-directed  efl’ort  and  the  aid  of  capital  the 
island  may  be  made  within  the  life  of  a  generation  to  treble  its  present 
yield  from  the  soil  and  to  support  in  comfort  a  pojiulation  of  5,000,000. 
And  this  would  be  but  a  moderate  measure  of  its  ultimate  ])t)ssihilities. 

The  potential  development  of  agriculture  in  Cuba  has  been  over¬ 
shadowed  by  its  two  dominant  industries  and  discounted  by  the 
methods  of  farming  prevalent  on  the  island.  IMisconception  has 
been  induced  by  the  failures  of  colonies  and  individual  settlers,  the 
former  promoted  under  unfavorable  conditions  and  the  latter  having 
undertaken  tasks  for  which  they  had  neither  altitude  nor  sufficient 
means.  Successful  farming  in  Cuba,  as  elsewhere,  necessitates  pre¬ 
vious  experience,  knowledge  of  local  conditions,  and  adequate 
capital.  A  great  majority  of  failures  are  traceable  to  lack  of  one  or 
more  of  these  requisits. 

A  glance  at  the  list  of  Cuban  imports  reveals  a  peculiar  economic 
state  which  will  doubtless  receive  the  careful  consideration  of  econo¬ 
mists  and  statesmen. 

Upward  of  $40,000,000  worth  of  foodstuffs  arc  purchased  by  the 
Cubans  annually.  Considerably  more  than  half  of  this  quantity 
consists  of  things  that  might  be  pro;! need  on  the  island.  Wore  than 
that,  several  of  the  items  in  question  represent  products  wliich  might 
be  raised  in  Cuba  to  an  extent  sufficient  to  supply  the  domestic 
demand  and  leave  a  considerable  surphis  for  exportation.  This  is, 
of  course,  only  contemplated  as  an  ultimate  possibility.  Let  Cuba 
aim  for  the  present  at  filling  the  demands  of  her  home  markets  for 
such  products  as  may  be  raised  within  her  borders. 

Except  for  the  heavily  capitalized  corporations  which  are  engaged 
in  the  sugar  and  tobacco  industries,  agricultural  effort  in  Cuba  is  con¬ 
fined  mainly  to  individual  natives  and  foreign  settlers.  The  Chinese 
truck  gardeners  are  an  important  factor  in  furnishing  vegetables  to 
the  local  market  and  demonstrating  what  may  be  done  by  intensive 
cultivation. 

The  natives  farm  in  a  jirimitive  manner,  under  what  may  be  called 
a  ‘‘system,^’  because  the  same  practices  are  jwevalent  throughout  the 
island.  They  are  not  as  haphazard  as  they  appear  to  he,  but  are, 
in  fact,  the  intelligent  result  of  exiierience  of  the  easiest  way  of  pro¬ 
curing  a  subsistence  from  a  small  patch  of  land.  The  guajiro  has 
had  neitlier  the  knowledge  nor  the  inducement  to  make  his  land  more 
productive.  Until  recently  there  was  no  market  open  to  anything 
tliat  he  might  have  jiroduced  and  only  the  most  limited  means  of 
transportation.  Now  there  are  excellent  roads  and  extensive  railway 
lines,  both  constantly  on  the  increase.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that 
when  he  is  taught  how  to  produce  a  larger  crop  and  assured  of  a  sale 
for  his  surplus  he  will  make  the  required  effort.  But  before  this  is 
asked  of  him  there  must  be  an  adjustment  of  land  tenure.  Lease- 


ROAD  CONSTRUCTION  IN  CUBA. 

Extensive  road  building  has  l)een  going  on  throughout  the  island  and  has  rendered  transportation 
faNlities  more  adequate.  This,  in  turn,  should  afford  greater  opportunities  for  profitable  farming. 


A  COUNTRY  ROAD  IN  CUBA. 

Such  roads,  coupled  with  the  wonderfully  rich  land  and  splendid  growing  climate,  give  to  Cuba  excep¬ 
tional  advantages  for  increasing  her  agricultural  products. 


FUTUEE  FARMING  IN  CUBA. 


holds  should  be  as  often  as  possible  perpetual  and  on  terms  which 
will  preclude  the  jiossibility  of  rents  being  unduly  raised  as  the  profits 
of  the  tenants  increase.  The  system  of  land  taxation  should  be  regu¬ 
lated  so  as  to  encourage  improvement,  lying  most  lightly  upon  the 
enterju-ising  man  and  falling  most  heavily  upon  the  owner  of  idle 
property.  It  would  be  the  part  of  wisdom  to  exempt  the  small  cul¬ 
tivator  entirely  from  direct  taxation.  Under  existing  circumstances 
he  contributes  his  full  share  of  the  revenues  through  the  medium  of 
his  purchases  of  imported  articles.  The  Government  should  estab¬ 
lish  an  agricultural  bank  to  furnish  moderate  credit  at  feasible  rates 
of  interest.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  success  of  such 
a  measure  would  be  as  great  in  Cuba  as  it  has  been  in  Egypt.  The 
conditions  of  farming  are  much  more  favorable  in  the  former  country 
than  in  the  latter.  Ilis  midday  rest  is  well  earned  by  several  hours’ 
work  in  the  field  before  the  city  dweller  has  taken  his  early  coffee. 

The  chief  essentials  to  the  improvement  of  Cuban  farming  are  at 
hand.  The  problem  is  to  turn  to  account  resources  which  are  now 
being  wasted  or  improvidently  used.  Fertile  land  and  a  genial 
climate  are  amply  available.  The  necessary  complement  to  these 
is  the  cessation  of  ' 'cultivation  by  exploitation”  and  the  adoption 
of  cultivation  with  conservation.  The  Cuban  farmer  must  be  induced 
to  care  for  his  land  and  to  make  it  profitably  productive.  He  will 
respoml  to  stimuli  if  intelligently  apjilied  to  him.  Show  him  the 
way,  furnish  him  the  means,  and  give  him  assurance  of  a  reward  for 
exertion  and  he  will  acquit  himself  creditably  in  a  short  while. 

The  Cuban  may  not  be  easily  moved  by  theoretical  argument,  but 
he  is  peculiarly  susceptible  to  the  force  of  an  object  lesson.  Give 
him  a  concrete  example  of  how  he  may  increase  his  crops  by  intelli¬ 
gent  treatment  of  his  land,  and  with  little  more  effort  than  he  expends 
upon  getting  a  bare  living  from  it,  and  he  may  be  depended  upon  to 
act  on  the  suggestion. 

This  is  a  work  which  should  be  carried  on  by  the  Government,  the 
railroads,  and  the  land  companies.  It  must  be  pursued  in  a  practi¬ 
cal  manner,  bringing  the  lessons  right  home  to  the  man  to  be  edu¬ 
cated.  Even  in  the  United  States,  where  the  intelligence  of  the 
farmer  is  of  a  high  order,  the  influence  of  experiment  stations  and 
railway  demonstration  cars  is  immeasurably  greater  than  that  of 
scientific  books. 

Efforts  on  the  part  of  the  Government  and  other  agencies  to 
})romote  general  agriculture  can  not  fail  to  attract  to  Cuba  the 
immigration  necessary  to  the  fuller  development  of  the  country.  It 
contains  abundant  land  that  may  be  cultivated  with  less  outlay  and 
greater  yield  than  the  average  irrigated  land  of  the  western  United 
States.  The  Cuban  enterprise  will  also  return  a  larger  ])rofit  on 
investment  under  the  advantageous  conditions  which  are  con- 


TYPICAL  “COLONY  HOUSE’’  OF  AMERICAN  AND  CANADIAN  CITRUS  FRUIT 

GROWERS  IN  EASTERN  CUBA. 


AN  EXHIBIT  OF  CITRUS  FRUITS  AND  VEGETABLES  RAISED  IN  THE  PROVINCE 

OF  CAMAGUEY,  CUBA. 

The  island  is  capable  of  almost  unlimited  development,  yet  less  than  15  per  cent  of  the  arable  land 
is  turned  to  good  account,  while  little  of  it  is  worked  to  its  utmost  possibility  of  production. 


•»cd 

^'5 


10 


THE  PAX  AMERICAN  UNION. 


tem})late(l,  provided  the  cultivator  exercises  discrimination  in  the 
selection  of  his  crops.  Heretofore  foreigners  taking  up  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Cuba  have  bought  high-priced  acreage  and  engaged  in 
citrus  fruit  growing  or  some  form  of  fancy  farming,  generally  with 
unsatisfactory  results.  It  has  been  demonstrated  that  compara¬ 
tively  cheap  land,  such  as  is  available  in  every  Province  of  the  island, 
can  be  made  to  produce  large  crops  of  staple  foodstuffs  with  regu¬ 
larity  and  great  profits. 

A  few  illustrations  will  suffice  to  indicate  the  field  of  opportunity 
open  to  the  small  farmer  in  Cuba. 

Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  is  paid  annually  by  the  island¬ 
ers  for  foreign  potatoes  of  a  quality  inferior  to  those  which  they 
raise  at  home.  Indeed,  the  best  Cuban  potatoes  rival  the  famed 
product  of  Bermuda.  This  should  be  an  article  of  export  from  Cuba, 
as  well  as  various  spring  vegetables,  for  which  there  is  practically 
unlimited  demand  in  New  York. 

Another  costly  item  of  unport  is  corn,  or  maize.  Experiments  have 
proved  that  excellent  results  may  be  had  with  this  cereal  on  ordinary 
Cuban  land.  At  present  it  is  raised  only  for  use  as  fodder.  The  crop 
is  deficient  in  quantity  and  poor  in  quality.  With  reasonable  care 
in  seed  selection  and  cultivation,  including  rotation  in  planting,  corn 
may  be  grown  upon  comparatively  cheap  land  and  marketed  at  a 
handsome  profit. 

There  are  thousands  of  acres  of  land  in  Cuba  lying  idle  or  earning 
less  than  5  per  cent  a  year  on  $20  an  acre  that  could  be  made  to  pro¬ 
duce  two  heavy  crops  of  alfalfa  every  year.  This  fact,  among  others 
of  a  similarly  significant  character,  has  been  established  by  the  test 
work  of  Prof.  Karutz  at  the  Camaguez  experiment  station  of  the 
Cuba  Railroad.  Alfalfa  is  not  raised  at  all  m  Cuba  at  present,  while 
the  island  pays  about  as  much  annually  for  imported  hay  as  it  does 
for  potatoes,  and  it  is  an  expensive  commodity  in  Habana  and  other 
cities. 

General  agriculture  in  Cuba  offers  a  promising  field  for  corporate 
enterprise.  The  story  of  the  banana  industry  is  indicative  of  what 
may  be  done  in  other  directions.  There  was  no  shipment  of  this  fruit 
from  the  island  until  the  United  Fruit  Co.  established  the  industry 
but  a  few  years  ago.  Now  the  United  States  buys  upward  of 
$1,000,000  worth  of  Cuban  bananas  yearly. 

A  corporation  entering  upon  agricultural  development  in  Cuba 
should  command  ample  means  and  the  services  of  a  manager  thor¬ 
oughly  familiar  with  crop  conditions  on  the  island.  A  man  who  is 
reckoned  as  one  of  the  most  ex])ert  in  })ractical  Cuban  agriculture, 
and  one  of  the  most  conversant  with  the  conditions  of  it,  expressed 
to  the  writer  the  conviction  that  a  com])anv  investing  $100, 000  in 


THE  DOCKS  AT  DAIQIJIRE  THE  NORTHERN  TERMINUS  OF  THE  CUBA  RAILROAD. 


/ 


12  THE  PAN  AMERICAN  UNION. 

1,000  acres  of  land  and  having  as  much  again  for  working  capital 
should,  under  ])roper  management,  earn  from  $40,000  to  $50,000 
net  annually.  This  proposition  was  indorsed  by  three  other  men  of 
similar  reputation. 

The  suggested  method  of  operation  for  such  a  company  contem¬ 
plates  the  leasing  of  its  land  in  small  tracts  to  be  cultivated  under  its 
direction.  The  comjiany  would  furnish  each  tenant  with  a  dwelling, 
implements,  seed,  and  other  necessaries,  after  the  manner  of  the 
Canadian  land  corporations,  which  are  attracting  so  many  Americans 
to  the  Dominion.  These  concerns  will  })ut  the  moneyless  man  in 
possession  of  a  fully  e({uipped  farm  and  a  furnished  home  if  he  can 
satisfy  them  of  his  capacity  as  a  farmer.  It  is  believed  that  a  some¬ 
what  similar  method  of  colonization  might  be  practiced  with  success 
in  Cuba.  In  the  plan  for  the  latter  country,  however,  the  same  degree 
of  independence  is  not  proposed.  It  is  suggested  that  the  tenant 
farmer  should  devote  his  holding  to  such  crops  as  the  company’s 
manager  might  direct,  and  that  the  corporation  should  harvest  and 
market  the  output,  allowing  to  the  cultivator  a  certain  percentage 
of  the  net  proceeds. 

There  are  sulliciently  numerous  examples  of  shining  success  to 
])rove  that  farming  m  Cuba  may  be  made  highly  profitable.  And  this 
is  the  conclusion  to  which  an  intelligent  survey  of  all  .the  relative 
conditions  must  lead.  When  efficient  farming  becomes  the  general 
practice  instead  of  the  exception,  the  island  will  be  the  most  produc¬ 
tive  area  in  the  world  of  its  size. 


